The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAVEZ Young had an impressive spring training outing both on the field and at the plate for the Toronto Blue Jays in the Grapefruit League.

Young drove in an RBI in the ninth inning and had a highlight reel defensive play in the outfield that led to a double play in his Toronto Blue Jays' 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.

The Pirates' Oneil Cruz hit a towering shot to centrefield that hit off the top of the wall, Young quickly corralled the ball, threw a perfect assist to shortstop Kevin Smith who relayed to catcher Patrick Cantwell.

Cantwell tagged out Kevin Kramer sliding, and then Jason Martin right behind him for the 8-6-2 double play.

Offensively, Young singled on a shot to centrefield to score Brock Lundquist in the ninth inning for the game's final margin.

This is his second consecutive offseason spent with the main roster in spring training.

In 111 games last season in Single A-Advanced with the Lansing Lugnuts, Young hit .247 with 99 hits and 43 RBI. He also had an .669 OPS, slugged .354 with 24 stolen bases, 53 runs scored, 17 doubles, four triples and six home runs.

In 2018, Young led the Lugnuts in batting average, runs scored and stolen bases and concluded the year listed as the Blue Jays' No.23 prospect in the preseason.

Defensively, playing in centre and right field, he totalled 15 outfield assists along with 290 putouts and a .984 fielding percentage.

It was a season of milestones for the 22-year-old outfielder as he was also named a Midwest League All-Star.